The Free Gift. (The transcript of a dream by Lionel Hartley 24/07/2004)
With company funds running low
The board met to plan an attack
On the dwindling budget and exorbitant costs
Which were taking the shirts from their backs.
“The manager isn’t to blame”,
The board had already agreed,
So obviously some other reason
Was sought to explain
Why the business was in desperate need.
They canvassed the local suppliers
For prices and costings and quotes
And finally weighed in the balance
The cheapest and closest
And best providers
Of the stock that would keep them afloat.
When all was laid on the table
The time for decision had come.
Then they looked again at the figures
And counted and wondered,
Re-countered and pondered
Why the budget demanded a much greater sum.
If this was all that the locals would charge
Including the freight and the handling,
Then why was the company funding so much
For orders and every-day spending?
Then the manager challenged
The board’s fiscal questions
And suggested a distant supply
Of goods he had personally
Asked for and sought
And ordered and bought
From “The made with the really good buy”.
Said he, “’Though they are further away
And getting the goods takes longer
And the goods are inferior,
It’s worth it! Consider!
The hundreds of dollars extra we pay
Gets us a “FREE” gift with each order.
“So you see,” said the manager,
“Say what you will!
The company won’t go downhill,
’Cause for every order I place with my mates,
The company gets a free pencil!”
